Shield for coat hangers



Feb. M, 1939. R. F: ADKINS SHIELD FOR COAT HANGERS Filed July 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 14, 1939. R. F. ADKINS SHIELD FOR COAT HANGERS Filed July 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fife/lard f. fldkms,

TTORNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT TOFFIC'E 2,147,590 SHIELD For. COAT HANGERS Richard F. Adkins, TopekagKans. Application July 16, mama-in No. 90,824

11 Claims.

This invention relates to garment hangers and particularly to a. shield attachment therefor whereby a garment is supported'according to its natural set and which prevents wrinkling and creasing that ordinarily occur when garments are applied directly to a hanger.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a relatively inexpensive and easily constructed shield that is capable of ready aplil plication to a conventional hanger; to provide a shield with secure anchorage on the hanger to prevent its accidental dislodgment; to provide a shield with a collar support for preventing crushing or creasing of the collar and shifting of the garment on the shield; to provide a construction wherein the collar support may be separate from or form a part of the main shield; and to providea shield that eliminates all contact of the garment with the hanger.

In accomplishing these andother objects of the inventiomas hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the'preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a garment hanger equipped with a shield constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the hanger and shield that is. applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the center of the hanger and shield.

'Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the hanger and its applied shield.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the blank from which the shield is formed and preparatory to its application on a hanger.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the invention showingthe collar support formed separately from the shoulder portion of the shield.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 as viewed from the rear side.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View of the shield and collar blanks illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a central cross-section through the shield and hanger as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a further modified form of the invention showing a different method of anchoring the shield to the hanger.

Fig. 11 is afurther modified arrangement.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the form of the invention shown in Fig; 11 with the collar support broken away to better illustrate the shield construction.

form of hanger Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a conventional :wire hanger includinga cross bar 2 connecting the arms 3: and 4 of: a how that ordinarily-supports the neck and shoulder portions of a garment, The bow is ordinarily formed by bringing the ends of the wire strand toegther and twisting one of them about the other, as at 5, to provide a shank 6 of a hook 1 that is formed on the other terminal of the wire. A 'When the garments are applied on a hanger of this character, the arms 3 and 4 do not provideysuificient supporting surface for the garment, with the result that the weight of the garment draws theneckand shoulder portions out of shape and forms wrinkles and creases that cannot be removed without pressing. The weight of the garmentalso draws the collar portion thereof into contact with the shank 6 of the hook, and'in the case ofcollars formed of lace and similar dainty fabrics, they are liable to become caught with the result that the garment istorn when removed from the hanger. I

In overcoming these difficulties I provide a rela' -tively inexpensive shield B whichmay be securely anchored to the hanger and which forms an adequately shaped and sufiicient supporting surface to freely support the garment in accordance with its natural set. In the preferred form of the invention,- the shield 8 also includes a collar support 9 to retain the collar shape of thegarment and prevent its contact with the hook portion of the hanger. The shield 8 is formed of flexible sheet material, such as cardboard, having suflicient rigidity to retain its shape when applied over the hanger, the shieldbeing preferably died from cardboard stock in the form. of a. blank, as shown in Fig. 5.

The blank includes diverging wings l0 and H of sufficient width to correspond to the shoulder width of a garment and is of sufficient length to extend slightly beyond the ends of the shoulder portions 3-and 40f the hanger body. In order to provide a single blank capable of fitting different width and shaped garments, the wings l0 and I I are preferably formed long enough to accommodate the widestgarment and the ends are provided with a plurality of transverse perforations or scoring l2 and I3 from which the surplus material may be torn or folded under to accommodate garments of lesser width.

Formed in the center of the blank at the apex or divergence point of the wings, is a slot l4 intersecting a substantially Y-shaped slot I5 having inwardly and laterally extending branches I1 and I8 terminating substantially centrally of the width of the wings in parallel slots l9 and 20 to pass the upper ends of the bow arms 3 and 4 when the shield is applied to the hanger as later described. The slots thus described form tabs 2| and 22 on the respective wings that are adapted to overlap each other when the blank is shaped to fit the bow of the hanger. Formed diagonally with the tabs are slots 23 and 24 that register with each other when the tabs are in overlapping relation to pass a tongue 25 that is formed intermediate the branches l1 and I8 of the Y-shaped slot l5. The side edges 26 and 21 of the tongue are preferably notched, as at 28, to provide adjustable latch engagement with the inner end edges 29 and 30 of the slots 23 and 24. The free end of the tongue 25 is preferably rounded as at 3| to facilitate entrance thereof through the slots 23 and 24.

Extending within the angle formed at the opposite side of the wings is the collar support 9 connected with the wing portions I and II of the shield by integral tie portions 32 and 33 substantially aligning with the parallel terminals l9 and 20 of the Y-shaped slot at the opposite side of the wings. The outer edge of the collar portion 9 is preferably straight as indicated at 34 and terminates short of the ends of the wings to provide tongues 35 and 36. The inner edges 31 and 38 of the collar support extend parallel with the diverging edges 39 and 40 of the wings. The central portion 4| of the collar support is separated from the main portion of the shield by a slot 42 extending parallel with the edge 34 and which has its ends terminating in lateral slots 43 and 44 forming sides of the tie portions 32 and 33 which have their opposite sides formed by inwardly extending slots 45 and 46. The slots 43-44 and 45-46 are of suflicient length to provide ties long enough to position the rear of the collar support in its proper position relative to the hanger, as later described.

In folding a blank constructed as described, the shank of the hanger is passed through the slot I4 and the tongue 25 is bent downwardly below the plane of the tabs 2| and 22 whereby the tabs pass over the top of the arms 3 and 4 while the tongue passes under the connecting terminals of the arms as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The shield is then drawn over the hanger until the arm portions 3 and 4 enter in the parallel terminals l9 and 20 of the Y-shaped slot, whereupon the tongue 25 is brought between the tabs 2| and 22 and moved upwardly over the tops thereof. The slots 23 and 24 of the tabs are then brought into registering relation after which the rounded end of the tab is pushed through the slots to bring the notched sides of the tongue into latching engagement with the ends 30 and 3| of the respective slots. When in this position the shield is caused to take the form of the bow having'a transverse curvature which substantially conforms to the curvature in the shoulder portions of a garment. The surplus material at the ends of the wings may then be torn off or folded under on one of the lines of peforations l2 or 3. This may be accomplished after the garment has been placed on the hanger. The collar support is then brought upwardly and forwardly in the direction of the hook 1 so that the tongue ends 35 and 36 thereof may be extended through slots 41 and 48 that are formed at the forward edge of the wings l0 and H, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The tie portions which connect the collar support to the body portion of the shield allow positioning of the collar in proper relation to the plane of the hanger so that the back of the collar support cooperates with the back of the shield to support the collar of a garment in its proper position.

When the shield is applied to the hanger as thus described, the tongue 25 and tabs 2| and 22 not only retain the shield in its desired shape but they securely anchor the shield to the hanger and prevent disarrangement thereof. The collar support, being of such shape that it conforms to the collar of the garment, prevents shifting or creasing of the garment on the wing or shoulder portions of the supported from the hanger in accordance with its natural set and cannot become disarranged during transportation or delivery of a garment. It is, therefore, obvious that the necessity of pinning the garment to the hanger is eliminated, and that the garment is freely supported in accordance with its natural set.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the wing portions 49 and 50 conform substantially to the shape of the wings in the preferred form of the invention, however, the securing tabs and 52 are shaped so as to eliminate the necessity of the tongue 25. In this form of the invention one of the tabs, for example 52, is provided with a hook-shaped tongue 53 that is engaged in an angle shaped slot 54 in the other tab. There is, however, sufficient material left in the body portion of the shield between the terminal ends 55 and 56 of the Y-shaped slot to overlappingly cooperate with the tabs in securely anchoring the shield to a hanger. In this form of the invention the collar support 51 is shown as formed of a separate piece and has a tongue 58 extendible through a slot 59 in the body portion of the shield, to cooperate with the ends 60 and 6| that engage in slots 62 and 63 at the front of the shield to securely retain the collar support in its proper position.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 10, the shield is so formed as to provide a relatively wide tongue 64 at the center thereof having a slit 65 terminating in an opening 66 to accommodate the shank of the hook. The tongue in this form of the invention is passed under the bow of the hanger while the wings are supported above the bow. The tongue is then bent upwardly and rearwardly with the hook shank passing through the slit 65 to seat the shank within the opening 66. The ends of the tongue are then lockingly inserted in a slot 61 that is formed in the body portion of the shield as clearly shown in Fig. 10. If desired, the tongue after being engaged with the shank of the hook, may be brought under and passed through the slot 61 from below. In this form of the invention the tabs which maintain the shape of the shield are in the form of a hook and slot somewhat similar to the form of invention shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the anchoring tongue 68 is constructed in the same manner as that shown in Fig. but is formed from material on the rear edge of the shield and is brought forwardly over the bow of the hanger and passed through a slot 69 adjacent the front edge thereof. In this form of the invention shape is maintained in the shield through connection of the collar support 10 thereof, the collar support 10 being provided with a downward extension 1| having slots 12 adjacent its side edges to form side and intermediate tongues 13 and 14 shield so that the garment is respectively. In applying the collar, the tabs 15 and 16 are brought substantially together and the end tongue 13 is passed through slots 11 in the tabs, while the intermediate tongue 74 overlies the upper face of the tabs as shown in Fig, 12. The front ends 18 and E9 of the collar support are passed through slots and 8! at the opposite side of the shield as in the other forms of the invention.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a shield which is simple of manufacture and which may be furnished at relatively small cost for use in connection with the conventional type wire hangers as used by the cleaning and dyeing trade. It is also obvious that a shield constructed as described is readily applicable to a hanger and rigidly retained thereon to support a garment in accordance with the shape of the shoulder and collar portions thereof.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shield for a garment hanger including a flexible member having wing portions to engagingly support the shoulder portions of a garment to be applied to the hanger, a collar support connected with the wing portions to supportingly engage the collar of the garment, and means connecting the wings for shaping said member to the hanger.

2. A shield for a garment hanger including a flexible member having diverging wing portions for supporting the shoulder portions of .a garment when applied to the hanger, overlapping tabs at the divergence point of the wing portions and having registering slots, and a tongue formed between said tabs and extendible through the registering slots to retainingly shape said member on the hanger. I

3. A shield for a garment hanger including a flexible member having diverging wings for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment when applied to the hanger, overlapping tabs at the divergence point of the wings and having registering slots, a tongue formed between said tabs and extendible through the registering slots to retainingly shape said member on the hanger, and a collar support for said member.

4. A shield for a garment hanger including a flexible member having diverging wings for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment when applied to the hanger, interconnecting tabs at the divergence point of the wings to impart shape to said member, and a tongue engageable with the hanger and extendible through a slot in said Wings for retaining said member on the hanger.

5. A shield for a garment hanger including a flexible member having diverging wings for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment when applied to the hanger, overlapping tabs at the divergence point of the wings, means intercon necting said tabs to impart a shape to the member corresponding to the shoulder portions of the garment, a tongue engageable with the hanger and extendible through a slot in said member for retaining the member on the hanger, and a collar support for said member.

6. In combination with a hanger having hook and bow portions, a shield including a flexible member having wing portions for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment when applied to the hanger, interengageable tabs at the divergence point of the wing portions to impart shape to the shield, and a split tongue engageable with the hook and extendible through a slot in said member to secure the shield on the bow of the hanger.

7. A shield fora garment hanger including a flexible member having wings to engagingly support the shoulder portions of a garment to be applied to the hanger, and acollar support connected with the wings and having means connecting the wings for shaping the wings of said member.

8. In combination with a garment hanger having bow and hook members, a flexible member having wing portions mounted on said bow member to engagingly support the shoulder portions of a garment to be applied to the hanger, a collar support connected with the wing portions to supportingly engage the collar of the garment, and means connecting the wing portions and engageable with the hook member of the hanger for preventing movement of said flexible member on the hanger.

9. In combination with a hanger, a shield for the hanger having tongue engaging slots therein, a collar support including a flexible strip mounted on said shield and having ends insertable in said slots to form and retain said strip in the shape of a collar, and means on the shield engageable under the hanger for anchoring the shield on the hanger.

10. In combination with a garment hanger, a shield for the hanger having tongue engaging slots therein, a collar support including a flexible strip provided with a tongue engaged in one of said slots and having ends insertable in the other slots to form and retain said strip in the shape of a collar, and a tab on the shield engageable under the hanger and adapted for contact therewith for anchoring the shield on the hanger.

11'. In combination with a garment hanger having bow and supporting members, a shield for the garment hanger including a flexible member having wing portions adapted to be mounted on the bow member about the supporting member for engagingly supporting the shoulder portions of a garment to be applied to the hanger, the wing portions being interengageable for securing and shaping said flexible member to the hanger, and a tab on the shield engageable under the hanger and with the wing portions to anchor the shield on the hanger.

RICHARD F. ADKINS. 

